WADA to Review Cannabis Ban After the Controversy with an Olympics Hopeful
The Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency said in a press release Tuesday that it would review the status of cannabis on its Prohibited List sometime next year. This decision comes after calls by high-profile athletes to lift the ban which prevented Sha'Carri Richardson from going to Tokyo Games.
The 21-year-old U.S. sprinter became a sensation after her victory in the qualifying women's 100-meter race in June. She later was disqualified because a drug test found a cannabis metabolite in her system, and her 10.72 seconds record was negated.
WADA said that it would initiate a review on cannabis status, but in 2022, the substance will remain prohibited.
Cannabis Doesn’t Enhance Athletic Performance
Although the relevant research is mostly lacking, sports organizations assume that cannabis does not improve athletic performance and results. In 2013, WADA increased the allowed levels for THC metabolites so that only those athletes who got ‘high’ on the day of the competition would fail a drug test. This move was meant to recognize the reality of many professional athletes using marijuana medically or recreationally in their free time.
WADA and other sports organizations continue to ban the substance because it doesn’t meet two other criteria: it allegedly increases the risk of injuries during competitions and makes athletes look bad as role models. However, Richardson’s supporters see her one-month suspension after the failed drug test and her exclusion from the Tokyo Games roster as an injustice.
The runner herself explained in an interview why she smoked marijuana. She had just learned about the death of her biological mother, and the substance helped her cope with the loss. Using recreational cannabis is legal in Oregon where the U.S. Track and Field trials for the Olympics took place.
Not Just a Question of Sympathy
After her impressive victory at the trials, Sha'Carri Richardson was a contender for the gold in the women's 100-meter race in Tokyo. However, nobody expects WADA to make an exception to the rules because of the young athlete's shattered dreams. But the rules themselves do need changing to reflect the new reality where more and more people turn to cannabis.
Athletes report the use of medical marijuana to treat sore muscles and minor injuries. That, by the way, could lead to a reduction in the use of opioids. Others smoke to wind down after the hardship of practices and competitions. Some athletes also call for the study of the drug as a way to prevent and treat concussions.
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